IC sounds staffing alarm

The leadership of Jamaica’s principal anti-corruption body has indicated that the Integrity Commission (IC) is faced with a considerable challenge to retain trained and experienced workers, with 29 employees leaving the agency in the last financial year.
Retired Justice Carol Lawrence Beswick, chairman of the IC, said the difficulty in retaining highly trained staff was attributable not only to the compensation package offered, but also to limitations relating to the level at which employees may be appointed within the approved salary scales.
She said these constraints have affected the commission’s ability to compete effectively for highly skilled and specialised professionals in an increasingly competitive labour market, impacting the organisation’s capacity to fully staff critical positions and maximise operational efficiency.
The IC head reasoned that while staff movement was a reality for any organisation, the loss of trained and experienced personnel places additional demands on existing teams and requires considerable investment in recruitment, onboarding and capacity-building. 
In her chairman’s remarks, Lawrence Beswick argued that the nature of anti-corruption work also presents unique challenges, as employees are often required to operate in demanding environments to manage sensitive matters and to navigate significant societal pressures regarding corruption.
“It is important that, as a society, we encourage suitable brave men and women to offer themselves to fight against corruption and that we compensate them appropriately, allowing them to perform their duties safely and securely,” the chairman declared.
She said the commission’s staff go beyond the call of duty, noting that their professionalism, resilience and sense of purpose continue to be among the IC’s greatest strengths.
Despite the departure of 29 employees in the last financial year, the IC recruited 39 persons who brought fresh perspectives and expertise to support the commission’s work.
Craig Beresford, executive director of the commission, said he has conducted a series of courtesy visits with key stakeholders, including Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, since his appointment to the position in October last year.
He said the engagements provided opportunities to discuss critical issues impacting the commission’s operations and the broader anti-corruption framework.
Beresford said issues surrounding the human resource challenges, particularly in attracting and retaining skilled personnel due to compensation structures, affecting operational capacity and the need for alignment with international standards for anti-corruption agencies, formed part of discussions with stakeholders.
“The issues raised, should they remain unresolved, will continue to limit effective oversight, diminish inter-agency coordination, and constrain efforts to strengthen the national integrity system,” he added.
Commenting on some of the achievements of the IC for the period in review, Beresford said the commission recorded several landmark gains, including an 11 per cent increase in the compliance rate of public officials filing their statutory declarations. He said the IC also monitored 2,026 government contracts valued at approximately J$208.6 billion and US$792 million, and the completion of 112 investigation reports. 
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